Banana Split Dessert

Schools out, swimming pools are open,and it's hot in Northwest Arkansas--perfect time for an ice cream dessert! A dear family friend shared this recipe with me soon after Ryan and I were married. Recipes that have been given to me  always bring a smile whether I'm reading   the recipe or eating the finished product!  It's a great make ahead dessert for any celebration or the perfect treat for an ordinary day when you need to bring a smile or lift a spirit.

Banana Split Dessert

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups  graham cracker crumbs (2pkgs)
3 large bananas,sliced
1/2 gallon Neopolitan ice cream
1 cup pecans
1 pint whipping cream

Reserve 1 cup crumbs; sprinkle remaining crumbs to cover bottom of 11x15in. pan. Slice banannas over crumbs.Slice ice cream in 1 1/2 inch slices, place on top of bananas. Cover with pecans. Place in freezer.

Sauce:
1 stick butter
1 cup chocolate chips
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt butter, add chocolate chips, melt; add powdered sugar and milk. Bring to boil and boil 5 minutes. Cool and add vanilla. Pour over ice cream mixture. Place back in freezer. Whip cream ( sweeten to taste) , spread over sauce. Top with remaining crumbs. Freeze until serving time.

                                                                       
                                                               Have A Dairy Good Day!

Summer Time Kitchen Relief

I didn't have to flip the calendar to August to know it was the dog days of summer! We've been having temperatures above 100 degrees for almost three weeks and breaking heat and humidity records for our area. Due to the heat, we have changed our chore schedule to try avoiding the very hottest times in the afternoon and make sure our animals are as comfortable as possible.

After feeding calves and working in the yard and garden, I'm not too anxious to come into the house to cook. However, the farmers of the family will be expecting something when they arrive for lunch. If you are feeling this way about summer time kitchen duties and need summer time kitchen relief like me, you can find some interesting and easy dairy recipes at http://www.dairymakessense.com/. I plan to try Summer Fruit and Pasta Toss to go with today's hot summer time menu.

Summer Fruit and Pasta Toss

Ingredients:

8 ounces whole wheat spiral pasta,uncooked

1 1/2 cups cubed cantaloupe(about 1/2 of cantaloupe)

1 1/2 cups cubed pineapple(about 1/2 of pineapple)

1 1/4 cups strawberries,sliced

1 cup halved seedless grapes

1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) low fat yogurt

Preparation:

Cook pasta according to package instructions,drain and cool in refrigerator for 10 minutes.

While pasta is cooking,prepare fruit and place in large serving bowl. Once pasta has cooled, add to bowl. Gently mix yogurt into pasta mixture. Chill for 30 minutes in refrigerator before serving.

Thanks to Minnesota Dairymom Kristine Spadgenske for sharing her recipe with us!